Follow up: Carter Road project in Smyrna nearing completion

WHAT'S THE STORY The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) is currently in the middle of a road rehabilitation project for Carter Road from Wheatley's Pond Road to Sunnyside Road.

The $4 million project includes the widening of roads to feature 11-foot lanes, five-foot shoulders on each side, curbs and sidewalks on both sides, a drainage system to deal with storms, relocation of utility poles, streetlights, and a traffic light at the intersection of Carter and Sunnyside roads.

The purpose of the project is to make the road wider and safer for cars, bicyclists, walkers, and joggers. The contractor for the improvements is A-Del Construction Company, of Newark.

WHAT'S NEW The project is nearing completion, according to DelDOT area engineer Craig Blowers. To date all the road widening, storm sewer installation, storm water pond construction, water main installation, curb, and signal work has been substantially completed.

"The full depth reclamation of the existing road base took place at the beginning of October and the contractor is now focusing on paving both the base and top layers of asphalt," Blowers said. "We anticipate the project to be substantially complete between late November to early December."

Throughout the course of the project there have been complaints by residents of the town, particular home and business owners on Carter Road. Complaints have ranged from lack of communication regarding the project to road closures that have caused confusion for residents trying to get to offices for doctors and dentists on Carter Road.

Blowers said in most cases he's been able to personally address the complaints. He said usually the complaints can be dealt with by educating the individual on precisely what is occurring and what the contractor must do to complete the work.

"When that can't resolve the issue, I've worked with the contractor, A-Del Construction Company, to get them addressed to the best of our ability," he said.

Currently the road is closed to everyone but local residents from South Street to Sunnyside Road. A hard closure, in which nobody can travel, exists from Julia Way to the Mill Creek Bridge; Blowers stressed the reason for this closure is not for the contractor's convenience nor is it closed only during work hours. He said the closure up to Mill Creek Bridge is for safety concerns as the new guardrail has not been installed yet.

There have been a couple of issues with the project but those have been addressed. Blowers said the replacement of a 60-inch corrugated metal pipe adjacent to Sheridan Lane added time to the project. Moreover, the full depth reclamation didn't proceed as expected.

"Weather is always a concern, but at this time it's going well," Blowers said. "The contractor is making every effort to ensure these issues do not impact the opening of the road."

WHAT'S NEXT Blowers said the remaining work includes paving which is underway, driveway tie-ins, sidewalk, guardrail, property monuments, placement of riprap, final striping, and miscellaneous seeding and planting.

Moreover, Blowers said the contractor will still be addressing punch lists work after the completion date. Upon the contractor receiving substantial completion there are two separate inspections of the project, Blowers said. These inspections generate a list of items to be completed.

"The project will not be accepted by the department until the final punch list is complete," Blowers said.

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